Youth In Care

The Society’s response to children who are victims of abuse or neglect has changed much in the past century. At first, communities ignored the problem of child abuse and neglect and later placed children into orphanages that were sometimes little better than the situation from which the child was removed. Through the 1900’s the child welfare legislation was rewritten to reflect changing societal attitudes towards the rights and needs of children and the importance of prevention and family preservation. In 2018, the current Child and Youth Family Service Act became law. Its paramount objective is to promote the best interests, protection and well being of children and youth.

The Child and Youth Family Service Act requires, and Children’s Aid Society of Algoma believes that children should be admitted to care only after every avenue for providing safe at-home care to the child has been explored and that the child’s safety and well being are at risk. However, when a child can no longer be cared for in his or her own home, other alternatives are investigated. These alternatives may include placing the child in the home of the relative, a close family friend, a neighbour or a member of the child’s community, who is familiar to the child.